The number of manufacturer's lines of plastic 54mm toy soldiers available to the collector/gamer has grown easily a hundredfold in the last ten years. This "Second Golden Age of Toy Soldiers" (see my first article in MWAN #90) is happening for a number of reasons:
The at first controversial REISSUE of many of the old lines from the fifties and sixties from companies which stopped production years ago, especially Marx. Many collectors not interested in gaming were horrified that their figures would lose their value as original figurm it has become the hobby standard that reissues will be made in different colors than the originals. In the beginning, certain unscrupulous persons would try to sell the first reissues as originals--their names were quickly circulated around!
When Marx was bought and destroyed by Quaker Oats, it was a disaster to the toy soldier collector. Don't laugh--Hasbro is just now doing the same thing to Avalon Hill, and the boardgamers are flying the flag at half mast all around the nation! The original figure molds were dispersed around the world. Meanwhile. back in England, the molds of several defunct companies still lie unknown in warehouses, because believe it or not, it costs significant money just to open the molds up to see what they are and what condition they are in! For this reason, the reissue process still goes on today.
The whereabouts of some molds are mysteries. Figures from molds which are known to be destroyed, like Lido, command high prices, at least relative to their original price.
A dozen new small company startups occurred. These were mainly motivated by baby boom generation enthusiasts--some of whom are already out of business, unfortunately.
A network of baby boom generation dealers willing to seek out the owners of the old molds and make deals for distribution of the new figure or reissue product.
new interest in the product of other countries, especially Europe, in the US, and vice versa.
collecting fraternity grew up around a regularly scheduled series of "military toy shows" around the USA, with a concurrent publishing of a few specialty magazines and newsletters.
In fact, the main difference between the 54rum and miniature wargaming hobbies was the lack of 54mm gaming; other than a little skirmishing. As you know. I am out to remedy this--and I am not the only one preparing to publish 54mm game rules. This trend is just beginning. Although the specific historicity of' 54min figures is not on the level of the smaller scales, figures are now available in all of the major periods: Ancient, Medieval, Pike and Shot Oust beginning) , Lace Wars (just beginning), Napoleonic. ARW (started two vears ago), Alamo and Mexican War, ACW, 19th Centurv Colonial Wars Oust begirming, except for US Western Indian Wars), WWI Oust beginning), WIA-11, and Modern (not to mention Fantasy and Sci-Fi).
Of course, since plastic is simpler to work in (though oddly enough, more expensive to make) than metal, conversion to extend this list by swopping heads and body parts is easy for craftsmen. So my Manchu Imperial Army started out as ACW, although I'm mostly just a painter who is willing to cut things off with my Exacto knife. Experts in the field can "animate- a figure so exactly from the current existing lines that they can produce anything from Flashman to Indiana Jones' father!
For those mad genius types who are interested in starting up with 54mm, this piece is meant to be a quick and dirty guide to the new field. I'm only going to cover figures, so be aware that terrain, vehicles, and other equipment is also available. You should know that any complete old Marx and other playsets are worth collectible prices. So don't break them up, throw them out. or, if you are mainly interested in their resale value, paint the figures (although collectors will know how to remove the paint safely). With that word of caution, forget about the money grubbers and pretend you're mainly a gamer, interested in fielding troops that are not just valuable, but historically useful -- that are not just pretty, but who can fight!
Price Categories: Per Figure
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Cheap: up to 50 cents
Normal: 50 cents-$2
Crafted Normal: $2-$5 (particularly good figures)
Expensive: $5-10
Rare: $10-45
Collectors Investment: $50+ (for plastic--whold a thunk it?)
This is meant as a very general price guide. Some dealers will disagree. Some prices will go up by next year. Elsden's Rule of Exploration: if you find what you want and its reasonable buy it-life is short.
Here is a list of plastic 54mrn toy soldier manufacturers, old and new. "Out" means out of business-figures going up in price unless available in reissue. Originals will fetch higher prices, but new companies, products will not yet be available in reissue.
ACCURATE (UK) One of the best of the new companies, with excellent figures. Only a few lines out, but they are great. one dealer is currently having them made in alternate colors and extra poses (from HO lines, which always contain more poses than the 54min) to extend the use ofthe figures in variant periods. Medieval, ARW, and ACW. Hopefully they Lire still in business. Priced Cheap. See also IMEX below.
AIRFIX (UK--IN AND OUT! AKA HUMBROL The Britain's of54mm plastics. All periods, great figure sculpting~ also some vehicles and buildings. New owners making almost everything available in reissue. Originals priced Nornial and Up: reiSSLIeS cheap (as all reissues). German WWII Hanomag Halftrack List reissued. Most rare: original British and Italian WWII sets (never released in US).
ARMIES IN PLASTIC The brand newest company. thankfully blazing new 54mm territory, instead of making the same old thing. First set this year World War One Americans: eight great combat poses in nice hefty figures including doughbov " ith "trench gLin" (shotgun) . Germans due at the end of 1998. Good luck. pal. Priced Normal.
ATLANTIC (ITALY--OUT) Great company also made HO scale with vehicles. Cowboys. WWII, others. Priced Normal and Up. "Political Sets: I I Hitler and the SS, Mussolini and the Black Shirts. Mao and the Chinese Revolution. Lenin-Stalin and the Russian Revolution priced over $100 in 54mm if complete. Some sets are whimsical. and include multi-figure "mini -dioramas" such as arrow peppered 7th Cavalry behind horse under a US flag. or a cowboy being hanged! Great Ancients of Troy and Greece. When you buy a boxed Atlantic set, always have them opened for you to review the contents before agreeing to a price. Discovering the actual contents of each individual box, whether under or over normal, is an adventure in itself. Huge archaic cannon sold as ACW/WWII works as Pike and Shot. Turkish, or Chinese! A few WWII vehicles such as German Flak Wagon and Prime Mover. Atlantic figures are Romantic as many other European works, and not mistakable for anv other maker once vou get to know them.
AUBURN (US--OUT). 60MM Large nicely detailed WWII in a variety of distinctive plastic and rubber plastic composition: cowboys. farmers, etc. Priced Expensive and Up.
BARZO (US) Ron Barzo is a high school teacher who puts out wonderful playsets in the US Early Frontier Era: Rogers Rangers, Battle of New Orleans, Mike Fink, Davy Crockett, Last of the Mohicans. Mini-playsets such as Indian Camp. Bagged figures available separately. Excellent figures priced Crafted Normal and Up. Limited production, but the best around. Early figures somewhat brittle, but newer figures more flexible. Sometimes you need to boil the rifles straight. Terrific playset equipment in resin. One of only two companies to make East Coast Indians (and can he make them). Playsets somewhat expensive but well worth the price. If you are interested in this period: BUY THIS BRAND! BUY IT NOW'
BMC (US) New company with cheap but historically correct plaVsets at every Toys R Us: Alamo. Gettysburg, Yorktown (ARW), Custer. DDay (due out 8/98). Bagged figures only also available. Production returns to retail America via Asian labor. Priced Cheap.
BRITAINS (UK) There'll always be a Britains (we hope). The sun never sets on Britains (someone is always playing with them somewhere) . Mad dogs and Britains figures go out in the midday sun (but don't melt) . The famous old metal maker makes several plastics lines such as Dectail (plastic with metal bases), Herald, Swoppets (heads and bodies swivel and are interchangeable) and others. All major periods~ excellent figures. Most recent experimental entrv--modern infantrv with jointed limbs like an action figure! Great Deetail Robin Hood Character line. (And of course still making metal sets, mostly ceremonial parade sets) . Discontinued Originals from Crafted Normal to Collector's Investment. especially Mint In Box sets. Current Originals Normal and Up.
CALL TO ARMS (UK) Relatively new company been around for a while, finally gearing up for serious production. Good things: very good figures and several lines. Problems: come out in sets of only 4 poses (16 figures per box). This is very annoying, as it takes them years to finish a line (by producing a second set) . And which figures are undersized--their Zulus (go figure--whoever heard of short Zulus. for Hephaestus, sake"). Incomplete Lines (all): ECW (only 54mm this period~ yet after years only command unit and infantry(pikemen and musketeers)--this year artillery is due no cavalry at all yet), ARW (new), Zulus and new 24th Foot. Napoleonic (new), ACW (new) ... only #2 sets (completing lines) out so far Zulus and ECW Musketeers (one Royalist and one Parliamentarian, so really not a complete line but what the heck). Priced Normal and Up. Prize for Most Eccentric Company in the Hobby!
CHARBENS (UK--OUT) Inferior goofy figures, but interesting lines available in cheap reissue: Romans, knights, pirates, ARW British, ACW. French Foreign Legion and Arabs, Indian Sikhs, African Safari, WWII Russians. 8th Arn-ly and Germans, Japanese and GIs, British Paras, and others.
CHERILEA (UK--OUT) "Sher--lee--all Ye Olde English Company From Days of Yore. 60mm~ most becoming available in reissue. Many periods, including unusual Highlanders of the '45, Saxons and Vikings, Egyptians and Nubians, great Zulus, WWII Russians and Chinese with heavy weapops, and others. Originals Crafted Normal and Up. You may recognize some "mystery" figures from your childhood here.
CHARIOT (US) Unusual new Ancient figures in 54mm, from a "David and Goliath"biblical mini-playset for kids! Nice figures in brown or gray in 4 poses; I use them for Medieval Finns. Priced Cheap.
CLASSIC TOY SOLDIERS (US)- New baby boomer company; partnership of 2 collectors/dealers. Supplementing Marx stuff with new WWII figures and equipment, some sold in playsets with Marx product as well. ARW, Alamo/Mexican War, Eastern Indians, and more. Priced Normal and Up. Quality varies from Good to Excellent. One of the new organizations to watch; seem to be in business to stay!
CRESCENT (UK- -OUT) Well executed painted figures, which found their way in individual figures to the US. Many of the figures you couldn't identify that you got as kids were Crescent. All periods, interesting poses. Great ACW/7th Cavalry, WWII, and many more. Just starting to come out in reissue. Originals rapidly going up from Crafted Normal. Reissues include knights and Afghans.
DULCOP (ITALY--OUT) Just out of business, their figures vary in quality but are inexpensive-- well, they were... Many lines including Medieval, Saracens, knights, Zorro and Mexicans, Napoleonic, cowboys and Indians, US Cavalry, Zulus, WWI Italian Alpine troops. WWII Germans and Americans. Priced cheap today, going up tomorrow. Also wagons, Western buildings, and other playset type accessories.
ESCI (ITALY- -OUT) High quality 54mm and HO figures 19th Century to WWII. Recently out of business, so originals still priced reasonable, but will go up from Normal.
ELASTOLIN (GERMANY) AKA HAUSSER/PRIESER The most unbelievably beautiful but delicate Hard Plastic figures ever made. F. A. 0. Schwartz of New York City used to make window displays of them. I couldn't afford them as a kid, and I still can't--but if you can, more power to you. All major periods up to ACW, so lifelike they are ready to jump off the shelf. Also 54mm, castles, siege equipment, etc. Elastolin Landsknects among the most breathtaking figures ever produced. Priced Crafted Normal and Up.
FONTANINI (ITALY) Odd 60mm lines, some in Day Glo toy colors, but well sculpted: Musketeers. Vikings, Turkish Janissaries, and Pirates. Priced Normal and Up.
FORM TECH (US--NO FIGURES) I mention this company because they represent a new and important 54min trend--terrain features molded in foam, which must be handled and stored carefully, but provided excellent features which can be easily put up and knocked down. walls, gun redoubts, building ruin, storehouse at Rorke's Drift, rock formations, mealie bag breastworks, a huge modular WWI trench system, castle front, stockade two story blockhouse, Zulu hut, bunker, and etc. Priced Expensive and up, but reasonable for what you get. other companies have ordered special pieces from them such as the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, and a Roman Galley. New Foreign Legion Fort. Barzo working in this material (with this company or by self) making Mississippi flatboat, Frontier Boonesborough Fort, cotton bale breastworks for New Orleans, etc.
HAT INDUSTRIES (US) One of the newest companies; unfortunately copied Call To Arms 4 pose line strategy. Good figures ACW Zouaves, Napoleonic Brunswickers, French Cuirassiers and more to come. Also make HO Napoleonics. Priced Normal.
HING FAT (HONG KONG) Hooray for cheap Asian figures! Dynamic Ninjas and disreputable pirates; hopefully more will follow when they figure out who is running Hong Kong these days! Sometimes surface in liquidator and discount stores bagged. Priced Cheap.
JEAN HOEFLER (GERMANY) Really interesting "Hollywood reality" figures such as knights, Napoleonic, ACW, Cowboys, Indians, WWII US, Viking Ship, Medieval Siege Tower, castle. Priced Normal.
IDEAL (US) The company might still exist, but all toy soldier lines are discontinued. Most available (some recently) in reissue. Best ACW, also US WWII. You played with these as a child. Priced cheap as reissues, Crafted Normal for originals.
IMEX (US) A new company which is still active in issuing new figures in 54mm and HO (1/72) scale. Clearly using the same sculptor as ACCURATE company described above. ACW only, but several sets. So far sets of infantry and artillery for both sides (reverse colors available to use different but complementary infantry sets for both sides), with three different cannons. Artillery sets include new infantry poses, caissons, and horses. Cavalry horses were just released; they are excellent and stand perfectly, setting a new standard. They are also available in bulk sets and fit many different company mounted figures, so you can remount your cavalry units with them if needed. This has been a problem, since several 54mm lines offer mounted figures without the horses! Cavalry figures will complete the set, and then who knows what this company will do .. Priced Cheap.
JECSAN (SPAIN) 60MM. Similar to REAMSA. Egyptians, Romans, Crusaders, Moors, Vikings, French Musketeers, and Huns/Mongols! Discontinued. See Elsden's Law of Exploration above. Priced Crafted Normal and Above.
LIDO (US--OUT) Remember those funny 3/4 round flat-footed guys which never stand up? Cardboard stands and Elmer's glue fixes that! Priced Crafted Normal and up.
LONE STAR (UK--OUT) Very good figures, many periods. Just becoming available in reissue. Originals priced Expensive and Up.
MARLBOROUGH (UK--OUT of PLASTICS) This metals company tried to make a plastics line and failed. Apparently they had trouble with the molds (again, plastic is harder and more expensive to make than metal). They made only three 24th Foot and three or four Zulus in maroon colored plastic. These are good quality, and priced Normal.
MARX (US--OUT) The king of toy soldiers, the Marx Company made figures of every period, and sometimes more than one line in each period (54mm and 60mm) , and playsets of every period with buildings. vehicles. terrain and equipment. The beginning of the current new period in toy soldiers began when their figures started coming out in reissue ten years ago or more--some are still coming out! The molds were distributed all over the world, and their figures come from everywhere. A Marx Toy Company (which owns mostly the name) operating out of Florida with the name currently makes limited run playsets Priced Collector Investment. However, most Marx figures are easily found in reasonable prices. Parts or figures not yet reissued of course cost more (such as Captain Gallant Legionnaires). Originals of character figures cost the most. original boxes are worth money (collectors are nuts).
MARXMAN (UK--OUT?) One of the best English sculptors working for an American dealer who rumor has it has just gone out of business. ACW regulars, and the very first ACW Zouaves in 54mm (they also make great naval figures). Hopefully someone will complete these sets. Please. Priced Normal today but watch out!
MATCHBOX (UK) The good old British Company with great figures, but they were discontinued and sold to Revell of Germany (see below). Great WWII figures, but becoming less available. You know what that means. Priced Normal and elevator up!
MOKAREX (BELGIUM) AKA CAFE STORM Odd single pose figures in silver Hard Plastic. No lines (sets of historical figures) as such, just greatly detailed single figures of everything from unusual military figures to specific historical generals. Priced Expensive and Up.
MONARCH (UK--OUT) Conquistadors available in reissue (black or silver). Priced Cheap.
MULTIPLE PRODUCTS CORPORATION (MPQ AKA PROCESSED PLASTIC) Almost the only bagged figures still in the toy stores such as Vietnam era US soldiers. Originals WWII, Cowboys, and others sold in bags, buckets, with a few vehicles or airplanes. Priced Cheap, but hard to find any but modern figures. Famous for "ringhand" figures with detachable weapons and equipment.
OLIVER (SPAIN) 60MM Cartoon-y figures on wide bases. Many major periods; make great bad guys. ACW Cavalry, WWII inc. Chinese. Best Foreign Legion figures ever made. Priced: Crafted Normal and UP.
PAYTON (US--OUT). Odd 45mm figures, but made excellent large LCI just reissued. Figures priced cheap; I've never met a 45mm collector--figures too small for 54mm, too large for miniature collectors.
PLAYMOBIL (GERMANY) A toy company of precise tooling whose every part fits together properly and operates, from the trap door on the castle wall to the ACW cannon. Give the kiddie type figures to the kids and use the sailing ships, buildings, 19th century wagons and coaches, trees, and other equipment for your collection. Prices: expensive but worth it. Best 54mm castle and medieval siege equipment in existence. Period. Why don't they make a steamboat?
PRESSMAN TOYS (US) A toy company now making wargame type sets with 45mm figures, but great working medieval siege engines, pirate cannon, etc, available in all toy stores.
REAMSA (SPAIN) 54-60mm Beautiful figures, distributed by only a few US dealers. Gauls and Romans, Aztecs and Conquistadors, El Cid knights an Moors, French and Spanish Napoleonics, Laurence of Arabia and Arabs and WWI Turks. Exquisite sculpting plus hefty construction, and horses that actually stand up. Priced Crafted Normal and Up. Worth the Price.
REISLER (DENMARK) When World War 11 ended in Europe, guess which country could get plastic? Limited lines (small number of figures per line) . Excellent sombrero Mexicans (4 poses). Cowboys, Indians, WWI US Cavalry, WW 11 US Infantry, a few others. Priced Crafted Normal.
REL (US--OUT) Primitive cowboys anu ACW in hard and soft plastic. Cannon set available in reissue. Priced Cheap.
REVELL (US--OUT, NOW GERMANY) The famous US plastic model company also made good lines of HO figures which are being expanded to many periods. Revell was sold to Germany. Unfortunately, they seem to be discontinuing 54mm, after coming out with new WWII sets of German Engineers, British Paras, 8th Army, and Afrika Corps in that scale. Fine figures; great HO lines including great WWII Eastern Front sets. C'mon you guys--at least upscale the Japanese! Please!
RUBENSTEIN (US--OUT) 60mm Cowboys and Indians. Inferior figures but with nice animation. Priced Cheap.
RUSSIAN (GENERIC, FORMER USSR HAD NO BRAND NAMES, COMRADE) Some Russian toy factories wasted their time making inferior copies of Western toy soldiers. Unfortunate, because they made interesting stuff of their own, although it was often in semi-flat (almost two dimensional figures) such as Battle of Kulikov (Mongols vs. Medieval Russians), Alexander Nevsky Medieval Russians, WWII sailors, etc. Excellent metal WWII Soviet vehicles ($25 each if you can find them) T-34, SU- 100, AT towed guns, 2 models of postwar BTR armored personnel carriers, 1930's Ford type trucks with various wheel arrangements including tracks, some airplanes, and semi flat infantry. These suddenly appeared in the Eighties and now are almost gone. Some Russian artisans in this country are now making beautiful painted hard plastic historical figures, priced Expensive.
STARLUX - (FRANCE) Hard Plastic, in "choc" (several colors per figure) and "luxell (deluxe painted detail) . No longer on display, many hobby stores in France have them in the back or in storage drawers. When in France, ask: "Avez-vous les soldats fabrique par Starlux?" All major periods. Beautiful but delicate. Priced Crafted Normal and above.
TIMMEE (US--OUT) Similar to Ideal, known for 1950s sets such as baseball cap ACW, and WWII lines. Cowboy, Indians, and Early Frontier figures, with some vehicles/cannons/mounted figures. Priced Crafted Normal and Up. WWII Japanese and Russians from 1950s rare, both originals (mostly orange) and Mexican reissues (mostly green). If you have any, I'll make you an offer!
TIMPO (UK--OUT) The best competition for Britains in the old days, had many lines in all periods, including swoppets. Offer almost the only mounted ARW in 54mm (imitation swoppet reissues). The original Timpo swoppets were unique, using a now lost process by which colored figures were made totally without paint. This was done by moulding different parts in different color plastics and then bonding the parts together to form the figure. You have to see the figures to understand the qualitative difference. Original Timpo swoppet Vikings, for example, are among the most lovely soft plastic figures ever made, and command much higher prices than the regular "solid" figures (foot Expensive, mounted Rare). On them individual leather bands wrap around their leggings. Leather vests hang above strong chests. Scaled mail shirts are covered by flowing hair, under both archaic homed helmets or accurate "spectacle" helmets. Poised to hurl spears, chop with axes, blow horns, pull bows, slash with swords, etc, they are a reason in themselves to go into the period. Some Timpo solid figure sets were put out in the Seventies under the label "Action Pack." Originals are priced at Crafted Normal and up.
Now that you know the names of the lines, how do you find the figures?
Many people still assume that "plastic is worthless." It can still occasionally be found at garage sales and flea markets at cheap prices whereas most folks assume that metal figures are "worth something." At Historicon Flea Market I bought several rare Britain's Deetail French Napoleonics and expensive Britains swoppets at 50 cents each. However, this is changing, especially where Marx playsets are concerned.
Hobby shops and 54mm mail order dealers are your best bet. Like metal miniatures, its a subculture. Subscribe to catalogues. Most dealers noA have Internet sites as well.
Mass Market Toy Stores are always worth checking, mainly for cheap figures made in Asia. This scene changes yearly, and because the distribution of product in this country is totally insane, you never know what will pop up once and never be seen again in your state.
Tally Ho and Good hunting!
REFERENCE WORKS FOR 54MM PLASTIC FIGURES:
Guide For Non-Metallic Toy Soldiers of the US
Timothy J. Geppert
2818 MCKeag Dr.
Ft. Collins, CO 80526
(970) 225-9782
Toy Soldier Company Photo Guides
James Delson
100 Riverside Dr. New York, NY 10024
(212) 799-6348
Playset Video Collectors
(45 minute videos of Marx Playset Contents)
Atomic Home Video
1240 Marlstone Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 634-7430
Plastic Figure and Playset Collector
(magazine) Tom Terry. Editor
Specialty Publishing Company
PO Box 1355
LaCrosse, WI 54602
(608) 781-1894
Suspended Animation: An Unauthorized History of Herald & Britain' s Plastic Figures 1998 by Peter Cole (just being released)
Small Wonder: Worlds In A Box
David Corey (new)
Photos and text on Marx Playsets
The Kearton Guide: The Collectors Guide To Plastic Toy Soldiers 1947-1987 George Kearton (new, Limited Edition of 1000 copies)
The Big Toy Box At Sears Expanded 1997 Edition
Reproduction of Sears Catalogues 1951-1969 inc. Marx Playsets
British Toy Soldiers, 1893 To The Present
James Opie (Metal and Plastics)
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© Copyright 1997 Hal Thinglum
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